Traditional knowledge and perception of birds in the Parnaíba Delta environmental protection area, Northeast Brazil

Francisco Das Chagas Vieira Santos,Anderson Guzzi,Wedson Medeiros Silva Souto,Arthur Serejo Neves Ribeiro,Reinaldo Farias Paiva De Lucena

doi:10.4025/actascibiolsci.v42i1.47722

Francisco Das Chagas Vieira Santos, Anderson Guzzi + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4025/actascibiolsci.v42i1.47722

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Abstract

Local inhabitants retain a vast knowledge about the bird richness surrounding them, as well as many of their ethological and ecological aspects, and can identify the importance of those birds to the maintenance of ecosystem integrity. The present study sought to document the traditional knowledge retained by members of the Labino community concerning the avifauna of the Delta do Rio Parnaíba Environmental Protection Area (APA), Piauí State, Brazil. We interviewed 76 male (51% of the sample) and 74 female (49%) residents. The interviewees indicated the occurrence of 97 bird species belonging to 21 orders and 40 families. Men could identify more bird species than women. Older individuals recognize more bird species than younger members of the community. Individuals with less schooling demonstrated greater knowledge of species richness than those with more formal educations. A very significant percentage (45%, n = 68) of the interviewees reported consuming native birds, principally Aramides cajaneus, Columbina squammata, and Zenaida auriculata. A total of 48 species were perceived as having their populations reduced in recent years, principally Mimus gilvus, Icterus jamacaii, Aramides cajaneus, Turdus rufiventris, and Cacicus cela. The residents of the Labino community were therefore found to have a detailed knowledge of the local avifauna and perceived impacts caused mainly by hunting in the Parnaiba River Delta region.

Highlights

Traditional knowledge is defined as that collection of knowledge and know-how concerned with natural and supernatural realms that is orally transmitted from generation to generation in traditional societies (Diegues, 2000)
It is not surprising that local inhabitants detain a vast knowledge of the birds that surround them, including species richness and many other ethological and ecological aspects, and understand the enormous importance of those animals to the equilibrium and integrity of the environment they share (Alves, Leite, Souto, Bezerra, & Loures-Ribeiro, 2013)
The present study sought to document the traditional knowledge retained by members of the Labino community concerning the avifauna of the Delta do Rio Parnaíba Environmental Protection Area (APA), Piauí State, Brazil, and test the research hypothesis that folk knowledge of the local avifauna is influenced by socio-economic factors such as gender, age, schooling, and time of residence

Summary

Introduction

Traditional knowledge is defined as that collection of knowledge and know-how concerned with natural and supernatural realms that is orally transmitted from generation to generation in traditional societies (Diegues, 2000). An approximation with local inhabitants based on those aspects could aid in efficiently passing concepts linked to ecological conservation and realigning some of their cultural and daily practices, with the least interference possible, and help coordinate practical actions. Those subtle course alterations could presumably be attempted while simultaneously evaluating populations of the local fauna and observing the effects of human pressure on them (including subsistence hunting or the protection of cultivated areas), while simultaneously stimulating community participation in species conservation activities (Santos, 2019)

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